French see Alabama as fertile business investment ground

Alabama and France have a healthy trade relationship, but Pascal Le Deunff would like to see it grow, he said Saturday during a visit to Huntsville.

"I made a courtesy call to Gov. (Bob) Riley on Friday, and I'm happy to say relations between France and Alabama are strong and on the path to grow," said Le Deunff, the consul general of France who operates out of Atlanta. "Alabama, and Huntsville in particular, offers numerous opportunities for French companies to invest in, including biotech, information technology and aerospace." Dave Dieter/The Huntsville TimesPascal Le Deunff

There are 20 French companies operating in Alabama, and Alabama businesses generate $300 million a year in trade with the European nation.

"There is so much to take advantage of here in your state," Le Deunff said.

Le Deunff represents France in the Southeast, he said, with responsibility for Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. His diplomatic post is mostly that of trade representative, and the Atlanta French Consulate is second only to the French Embassy, in Washington, D.C., in terms of responsibility.

The meeting with Riley went well, Le Deunff said "and I'm happy to say that over the past 40 days there are four or five French companies that are considering investing in this region."

Le Deunff was at the University of Alabama in Huntsville this weekend to participate in the annual meeting of the Alabama chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French, held at the Tom Bevill Center off Sparkman Drive.

"In this age of global trade and just the way the world we live in is, I think it is extremely important that American students learn as many languages as they can," he said. "It will benefit them as they pursue career paths, and that knowledge benefits us all."